Sports Memorabilia

"Junior" Jim Gilliam

Lot 354
1978 Old-Timer's Memorabilia. Lot of two 1978 Old Timer's Day items, one from New York and one from Los Angeles.
The first item is from Gilliam's last Dodgers Old Timer's Game, played on July 23, 1978: a blue wool blanket bearing the Dodger logo on a special Old Timer's Game patch (with the date). The blanket is in its original plastic case. There is a small area of soil on the "d", otherwise this is in fine condition. A bittersweet memento of "Mr. Dodger" and his last months with the team he for which he did so much.
A few days later, on July 29, the Yankees had an Old Timer's Day and we offer a vinyl dop kit with the Yankees' logo and the date of the game. There is minor soil (easily cleaned) on the inside, otherwise fine condition.

The Dodgers and the Yankees had a rivalry that went way back, but these men who had faced each other in so many legendary games always had a healthy respect for each other and this is a nice way to remember that connection (one that Jim Gilliam was part of for over 25 years).
Estimated Value $200-300.
From the Estate of James "Junior" Gilliam.

Lot 355
An Assortment of Awards. A lot of ten awards given to Jim Gilliam, including a 1974 Old Timer's Day Game memento from Shea Stadium. The other items include a 1969 "Mr. Dodger" award from Temple Ner Tamid, a small trophy, a 1977 plaque from the Encino Shrine Club and 1960 Award of Merit from the Southern Area Club, an award from the Temple Beth Am Men's Club, a 1964 award for his services "combating juvenile delinquency", a 1965 award from the Wilshire Boulevard Temple and the key to El Descanto Camarillo (1972). The final item is a 1977 Posthumous award from the Rotary Club of Long Beach. The plaques show a few scratches, but are in otherwise good to very good condition. Lot includes a signed ("Jim Gilliam ") publicity postcard.
Estimated Value $75-UP.
From the Estate of James "Junior" Gilliam.

Lot 356
Baseball Rules and Retirement. Lot of five. A collection of the ephemera associated with long term involvement in major league baseball includes the 1968 and 1970 abridged (spiral bound) Baseball Blue Books, the 1975 Official Baseball Rules and Instructions to National League Umpires (together in a small binder), the 1957 booklet outlining the "Major League Baseball Players Benefit Plan" (published after adjustments made that year) and the 1978 Annual Report of that benefit plan. There is some wear to the books -- a few corners are turned down, edges are a bit worn, but otherwise conditions are very good to fine.
Estimated Value $75-100.
From the Estate of James "Junior" Gilliam.

Lot 357
Dodger Days. Lot of assorted publicity shots and awards from Jim Gilliam's Dodger days, including an black and white portrait of Branch Rickey, a photo with Jackie Robinson at an awards banquet, the 1967 Dodgers team photo, three souvenir shots of Dodger Stadium scoreboard announcing Gilliam's moments (including the first Dodger run at the Stadium), an 8 x 10" color portrait of Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Dusty Baker and Reggie Smith and a few publicity portraits of Gilliam. Several of the photos show some wear and edge damage but the overall condition is good.
The awards include a trophy from the L.A. Dodger Booster Club, a 1967 Sports Night plaque honoring Gilliam as "Mr. Dodger" and a wooden plaque from the Hot Stove League honoring Gilliam as "Player of the Year 1963" (the brass plaque has come off but would be easily reattached). Conditions vary, but overall condition is good.
Estimated Value $75-UP.
From the Estate of James "Junior" Gilliam.

Lot 358
Dodger Mementos. Lot of three Dodger mementos: A silverplate platter commemorating Dodger Stadium's 10th Anniversary, Gilliam's Dodger tie and a silver baseball with a replica of Roy Campanella's signature. And a 1962 printed pastel portrait of Gilliam issued by Union Oil.
The platter has facsimile signatures of all the great Dodgers and a depiction of Dodger Stadium. Unfortunately, a few of the black signatures have lost their color and are hard to distinguish. There are a few other signs of use, but condition overall is good. Gilliam's tie, from Harvale and Company, New York, is in pristine condition with only a few creases from use. The Campanella baseball, a heavy silverplate ball with an etched facsimile signature, is a solid piece of Dodger memorabilia connecting Gilliam with his friend Campanella and is in fine condition.

Once again, a chance to own Dodger items that are intimately connected with one of the most loved (and important) Dodger player/coaches of the 1950s-1970s.
Estimated Value $150-UP.
From the Estate of James "Junior" Gilliam.

Lot 359
Five Significant Awards. Lot of five significant awards honoring Jim Gilliam.
The first two awards are linked and honor Gilliam the Dodger both at the height of his career and posthumously -- The Charles Di Giovanna Memorial Trophy, presented to Jim Gilliam in 1964 and 1978. The 1964 award, a trophy with a swinging batter mounted on a black base, features a plaque honoring James Gilliam as "The Player Who Most Typifies Dodger Tradition". Although the batter on the trophy is missing his bat (it is taped to the base) and there is some finish wear, this award is in very good condition. The second Di Giovanna award is a 1978 plaque featuring Gilliam's likeness and the name of the award, in very good condition. The next honor, a typescript certificate with official City of Los Angeles seal, dated February 13, 1965, honors Jim "Junior" Gilliam on his appointment as coach to the Dodgers. Signed by Councilmen from the 8th and 9th district. Presented in a blue folder which shows some wear and there is one faint spot near the seal. Otherwise, this piece is in very good condition. A wooden plaque presented by the Masquers on February 2, 1966, is the next item. Inscribed "You Will Always Be In Our Hall of Fame" with the Masquer's emblem. A few scratches to the plaque and wood, in good condition.The final award was presented by the Carson Black Heritage Association and is a section of a tree with a plaque affixed. The 1979 Achievement Award, which may have been presented posthumously, recognizes excellence in sports and is in very good condition.

This lot reminds us of Gilliam's importance to his community and fans -- although he is never mentioned for Hall of Fame recognition, he was an important part of the Dodger organization and Major League Baseball for many years and his contributions are remembered.
Estimated Value $250-350.
From the Estate of James "Junior" Gilliam.

Lot 360
Jim Gilliam and Tennessee. Lot of seven awards and honors linking James Gilliam to his home state of Tennessee.
Four plaques include Citizen of the Year Award from the Nashville Frontiers Club (December 10, 1965), "Outstanding Achievement and Contribution to Sports and the Nation" award from the Nashville Tennessean (1965), "Recognition of Athletic Achievements, the Influence and Inspiration To the Youth of America" from Tennessee A&I University (December 10, 1965) and the 1995 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Honor Award (accompanied by the induction banquet program). With the exception of a few minor scratches, all of the awards are in very good condition. Also included are three paper certificates: a certificate of congratulations and an honorary appointment to the Governor's staff, both signed by the governor of Tennessee, Frank G. Clement (December 10, 1965) and a certification that Gilliam was an honorary metropolitan citizen of Nashville Davidson County (December 10, 1965). There is some edge wear and tear, otherwise the certificates are in good to very good condition.
As is obvious by many of the dates above, Gilliam returned home to Nashville following the 1965 World Series victory that saw him return to the Dodger infield after retiring. Proud to be a Tennessean, Gilliam maintained strong ties to his home state and was a beloved figure there.
Estimated Value $300-UP.
From the Estate of James "Junior" Gilliam.

Lot 361
Jim Gilliam Scrapbooks. An outstanding lot of two scrapbooks and loose clippings, most assembled by a Gilliam fan from Sacramento. A true labor of love, there are newspaper photographs and clippings tracing "Junior" Gilliam's career from Brooklyn to Los Angeles -- box scores and highlights from World Series and every-day games alongside editorials praising Gilliam's versatility and abilities as a player and coach. News items remind us of the awards and recognition Gilliam received: "Unsung, Unhonored -- and Unsurpassed / Dodger Mates Salute Jim as Ideal Player" reads one headline from 1964.

A wonderful and unique opportunity to own this record of Gilliam and the Dodgers through their famous stretches of the 1950s and 1960s. A signed Jim Gilliam publicity photo opens the larger of the two books, across from a picture of the compiler and Gilliam. Some pages are loose; condition of the clippings varies, most have toned, some are creased and a folder holds the ones that have come out of the scrapbooks. We have included a program from Gilliam's funeral in this lot, a sad reminder of how deeply his early death affected those who admired him.
Estimated Value $200-UP.
From the Estate of James "Junior" Gilliam.

Lot 362
Large Lot for Dealers. Large lot of reprinted Jim Gilliam baseball cards and other publicity material.
The highlight is 30 black and white signed ("Jim Gilliam" facsimile and autograph signatures on all) postcards of Gilliam. The reprinted cards are as follows: 100 1995 reprints of 1953's "Color TV" Brooklyn card (the year Gilliam won Rookie of the Year); almost 200 1995 reprints of Topps' 1954 card (featuring a Gilliam facsimile signature); about 200 each of the 1953 and 1954 cards and about 200 1956 (?) Topps cards. There is also a complete reprinted set of Topps "Ultimate 1954 Series". All of the Gilliam cards are Mint, the "Ultimate 1954 Series" has some minor surface soil to the edges, but is otherwise near mint.
Also included: 39 8 x 11" printed copies of a pastel portrait commissioned and released by Union Oil Company of California in 1962. Verso of the portrait is a complete stat sheet. Some edge soiling to a few, all minor, very good condition overall. Over 25 8 x 11" black and white publicity portrait photos, a few with water damage, the rest very good condition.
Finally, a bundle of funeral programs from Gilliam's service.
Estimated Value $400-500.
From the Estate of James "Junior" Gilliam.

Lot 363
Lot of Gilliam Signed Documents. A varied lot of eight Gilliam signatures (appearing variously as "Jim Gilliam" and "James Gilliam") on various receipts and bills and on two black and white publicity postcards. Five of the document signatures are in carbon form. Conditions vary. Worth inspection or a phone call!
Estimated Value $100-150.
From the Estate of James "Junior" Gilliam.

Lot 364
Lot of World Series and Other Pins/Pendants. Lot of five commemorative pins. This lot includes a Minnesota Twins 1965 World Series pin, a Dodgers pendant (presumably the same game), a pin commemorating Jackie Robinson's entry into baseball and the Hall of Fame, a San Juan Senadores pendant with an inscription (and Gilliam's name) commemorating Balor Moore's perfect game, and a Senadores tie tack. All of the items are in their original boxes, except for the Senadores pendant (which is in a plastic flip holder).
Estimated Value $200-300.
From the Estate of James "Junior" Gilliam.

Lot 365
Personal Ephemera. Assorted ephemera from James Gilliam's life outside of baseball. A major theme in this lot is Gilliam's love of golf and several photos of golf outings (including a shot with Ronald Reagan) with Dodgers and others are featured. There is also a gold trophy (the plaque has fallen off) and a cup honoring 1964 Dodger Day at the "W.H.C.C." A few receipts are included, as is a Gilliam signed installment contract from the Educational Heritage Company and a vehicle registration. Also included is a Compton Christmas Parade paperweight and a Watts parade trophy (sadly missing the top of the decoration). Six certificates of appreciation from various organizations are included in this lot, they are in varying condition. One of the most noteworthy collections in this lot is an assortment of newspapers with obituaries and funeral accounts following Gilliam's death and a handful of programs from the ceremony itself.
This lot will be sold only to buyers who have inspected the contents.
Estimated Value $50-UP.
From the Estate of James "Junior" Gilliam.

Lot 366
Player's Association Card and Major League Lifetime Pass. Leather billfold embossed inside "Compliments of National League". Interior plastic window is torn and there is tarnish residue. The billfold shows wear that is obviously from being carried in Jim Gilliam's pocket for many years. Inside the wallet there is a metal "Lifetime Pass" issued by the American and National Leagues to Jim Gilliam "In Appreciation of Long and Meritorious Service"; a leather card of the same type issued to Jim Gilliam "& one"; and Gilliam's 1962 Association of Professional Ball Players of America certification of dues paid until July 1, 1963 (Gilliam's membership number was 23412). The brass card is somewhat tarnished and some tarnish has transferred to the other pieces, but the overall condition is very good and this is a unique opportunity to own a well-used piece of Gilliam's baseball life.
Estimated Value $200-300.
From the Estate of James "Junior" Gilliam.

Lot 367
Sandy Koufax's 4th No-No. Wood laminated plaque commemorating Sandy Koufax's September 9th, 1965, Perfect Game. Presumably issued to participants, making it a fairly rare memento, this plaque features a copy of the batting line-up stat sheet (gotta love all those Cub 0s) and a black and white photo of Koufax putting one over the plate, backed by the Dodger scoreboard. Fine condition.
Estimated Value $50-UP.
From the Estate of James "Junior" Gilliam.

Lot 368
Signed Vaccination Record. Document Signed ("James Gilliam"). Fold-out vaccination record, yellow card stock. In February of 1964, Gilliam was revaccinated against smallpox. A strong signature in blue ink on the yellow card stock in very fine condition.
Estimated Value $100-200.
From the Estate of James "Junior" Gilliam.

Lot 369
Silver Pitcher and Cups. Set of five electroplate pieces: one engraved pitcher and four cups presented by Meharry Medical College. Inscription reads: "To 'Junior' Gilliam To Commemorate His Birth At George W. Hubbard Hospital of Meharry Medical College October 17, 1928". The pitcher and each cup bear the symbol of the College. Additional engraving on bottom, presumably to identify piece if it were stolen. Very good to fine condition.

A very personal piece of memorabilia, presented by one of the finest historically black institutions in the country.
Estimated Value $200-300.
From the Estate of James "Junior" Gilliam.